A month as a GP in the earthquake area of Pakistan

[摘要] Wednesday is set aside for the antenatal clinic here at Bach Christian Hospital, a small facility with about 50 beds and situated a few miles to the north of Abbotabad, Pakistan. As a male doctor I have little role and am currently enjoying a morning off from outpatients — much to the chagrin of my wife, also a GP, who has no such luxury. The scenery is beautiful in the foothills of the Himalayas, but the view belies the tragedy that occurred during the earthquake of a month ago [October 2005]. The combination of compassion fatigue and the topography of the area affected seem to be leading to the inevitability of a secondary wave of thousands of further deaths as winter approaches. This catastrophe would be too big for any country, rich or poor, to cope with alone. Pakistan is not rich.

[学科分类] 卫生学